ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke is confident Brad Crouch and Jake Lever will return for Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide, but isn't as sure about Showdown specialist Eddie Betts.
The dangerous small forward had his appendix removed early last week and missed last weekend's draw with Collingwood at the MCG.
"He's returned to some running over the weekend and we'll just build him up this week," Pyke told reporters on Thursday morning.
"I believe he (saw the surgeon on Tuesday or Wednesday), it will be more how he presents now and how he goes in terms of training.
"We'll get through training this morning and assess them from there."
All three will have to get through Thursday's closed training session at Adelaide Oval.
Lever has missed the past two games with hamstring tightness, while Crouch has missed one week with a fractured cheekbone.
"Lever should be fine," Pyke said. "(Crouch) should be (fine)."
The Power's only injury concern is around defender Matthew Broadbent, who is in some doubt with an ankle injury he's carried this year.
"Broadbent's a bit scratchy still coming off that ankle, so we'll wait and see what that looks like," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.
Hinkley said fifth-placed Port's four-game losing streak to the Crows was irrelevant entering Sunday's much-anticipated clash.
"I don't worry about the four in a row, I mean, I don't really care," Hinkley said.
"I would have much rather won them but I really care about this week, that's the facts.
"Every stat is there to be broken at some point."
Hinkley was more concerned with matching it with a Crows outfit he described as "the best side in the competition".
"They are sitting top of the ladder for a reason," he said.
Hinkley watched with awe last weekend when the Crows came from 50 points down to draw with Collingwood.
"There was some really scary stuff," he said.
"A side that is down by 50 points be able to get back, you go 'wow'.
"You know what is coming (this week) and you expect the best, that is the crucial part for us.
"Defensively this year we have been incredibly strong. We are going to get tested to the max this week."
This story originally appeared on afl.com.au
More on portadelaidefc.com.au...
